CONSULTANT and PANEL EXPERT for S.A.M.H.S.A. (SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ADMINISTRATION), UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WASHINGTON, D.C., The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was established by an act of Congress in 1992 under Public Law 102-321. SAMHSA was created as a services agency to focus attention, programs, and funding on improving the lives of people with or at risk for mental and substance abuse disorders. http://www.samhsa.gov/

APPOINTEE TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE TASK FORCE ON CO-OCCURRING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NJ DIVISION OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND THE DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

MULTIPLE KEYNOTE SPEECHES NASHMHPD, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTORS, HIGHEST RATED PRESENTATION AT THE 2008 WINTER COMMISSIONER'S MEETING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

"Mr. Arauz was genuine, inspiring, and substantive.  State Mental Health Commissioners repeatedly commented on how amazed they were by his powerful story through reminding  of the importance of their mission." HIGHEST RATED PRESENTATION AT THE CONFERENCE!"

Robert W. Glover, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
www.nashmhpd.org

American Psychiatric Nurses Association: National Consumer Advisory Board Member, Keynote Speaker 2010 Convention and current member of association. http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

ASSOCIATION OF TRAUMATIC STRESS SPECIALISTS (ATSS); Presenter at the 2010 International Convention in Toronto, Canada. Topic will be on the movement of the mental health system to trauma informed from the perspective of the mental healh consumer-from child abuse to hospital incarceration (treatment as trauma-restraint/seclusion) to recovery and the sysmptoms of PTSD interwoven in the process and with recommendations throughout to aid the system, the mental health worker and the consumer deal with the various traumas witnessed and experienced. http://www.atss.info/index.html

CONSULTANT and PANEL EXPERT for SMOKING CESSATION LEADERSHIP CENTER at UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA- SAN FRANCISCO:The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) is a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Significant support is also provided by the American Legacy Foundation. SCLC aims to increase smoking cessation rates and increase the number of health professionals who help smokers quit. Focusing on tobacco dependence treatment for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.  http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu/MH_Resources.html

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION-NEW JERSEY (MHA-NJ): Mental Health Advocate; work to improve the occupational outlook for citizens with mental illness in the state of New Jersey. http://www.mhanj.org/

CONSUMER TOBACCO ADVOCATE: C.H.O.I.C.E.S.  Consumers Helping Others In their Condition by Ending Smoking: A grant funded my the New Jersey Department of Mental Health Services and founded by Dr. Jill Williams, UMDNJ. The grants has Consumer Tobacco Advocates go to the various state hospitals and day programs to educate consumers on the propensity to abuse tobacco by people with mental illness. It is an educational program not a smoking cessation program.  http://www.njchoices.org/

NATIONALLY CERTIFIED STATE TRAINER AND HALL OF FAME PRESENTER FOR NAMI, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS "IN OUR OWN VOICE PROGRAM": IOOV program is an interactive program that presenters do throughout the United States to debunk the stigma of mental illness. Currently certified as a state trainer to hold weekend trainings to teach consumers how to make presentation. http://www.nami.org/

KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND CONSULTANT FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCY-NJ (NCADD-NJ): Keynote speaker for statewide meetings for staff on Mental Illness and Chemical Addiction. Attend staff meeting throughout state to field questions on M.I.C.A. http://www.ncaddnj.org/2008/Home/default.asp

KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE NEW JERSEY STATE DIVISION OF ADDICTION SERVICES.  http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/das/index.htm

Middlesex Mental Health Board member; Middlesex County New Jersey.

MULTIPLE TESTIMONIES PRESENTED TO NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY AS MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE

MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF ADDICTION RECOVERY (NCADD-NJ): An organization formed to diminish the stigma of addiction and advocate for the recognition of all addictions equally in care. 

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION: member since 1994. http://www.dav.org/

MULTIPLE NATIONAL MEDIA APPEARANCES AS MENTAL HEALTH/ADDICTION ADVOCATE, BIPOLAR EXPERT AND CONSUMER ISSUES WITH ADDICTION.